Ill Rummynose Tetras - medication question

[JEFFR259]

Evening everyone!

Just received my first order yesterday from LiveAquaria. Included in that order were 4 True RummyNose Tetras. Upon release into the tank, one of the tetras was exhibiting white lesions on his body (like a fungal infections). Scales appeared to be missing in the affected area. He died shortly after release (1 hour or so). I followed the aclimation recommendation to the T. The rest of the new Tetras appeared ok. Today, another one has fallen ill in the same manner. Colorless patches that appear to be slightly raised (again, looks like a lesion or wound). A third one ALSO looks the same, but his demeanor hasn't declined YET. ANYWAYS, I feel this is sometype of fungal or bacterial common infection. I have purchased Maracyn for the treatment. My question is, I don't have a quarantine tank so Im forced to treat them in the tank. Will the Maracyn affect or kill my other fish (specifically either my Glassy Catfish, common Plecostomus or other catfish ( type unsure of). I don't want to dose until I have a reasonable belief that the medication will not harm the others. I know you all can offer some insight. THANKS!!!!

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

I can't remember the specific name of the illness your talking about or what causes it. What I can tell you is that the rummy nose tetras were exposed to the disease and during transportation were sustained in disease fillled, detritus filled water. Therefore they were weakened to. Since you have put them in the tank your other fish are now exposed and the most important thing to do is keep the tank extremely clean.

If maracyn is the correct medicine to treat this disease then the best thing to do is dose the whole tank and of course you will be following the dosing directions on the package. This way you can kill the source of the disease that is now in your tank and coming in contact with your other fish. Also, just before each dose you should do a partial water change to keep the tank extra clean, adding the dose after you replace the water.

Putting aquarium salt in the tank will also help. I will come back tomorrow when I find the name and cause of the disease but I'm sure others will be able to clarify before then.

 

[tttnjfttt]

It sounds like your tank is suffering from Columnaries, which is a bacterial infection that is commonly refered to as "fungus". This also explains the open wounds that you are seeing. *I know this is too late now, but this is exactly why you want to quarentine fish when you first get them.

Maracyn is the right medicine for this, but I can't tell you if it is safe for scaleless fish or not. Be sure to turn the temperature of your tank DOWN if at all possible, as this bacteria thrives in warm water. DO NOT put salt in your tank with the plecos and other cats, as it can burn them. Do you have a hospital tank? If so, seperate out the fish (everyone does need to be medicated) and give one tank salt, and leave the other saltless. If you don't have a hospital tank, you can give your fish salt baths. I don't know how much salt/gal to use.

Here is a good link for some more info. http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[JEFFR259]

Thanks for the information guys! Well, the illness sure acted quickly as the affected ones are all now deceased The fourth Rummynose doesn't appear to be affected (neither do any of the other tankmates ), but I am still medicating with Maracyn. I have saved the specimens for return to Live Aquaria. I'll keep everyone updated.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

ttn thanks for bringing to our attention the fact that salt can hurt catfish. I have just read in AFM that, if you can quarantine the tetras, a minimum of 2 teaspoons per gallon is the correct dosage of salt.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I have just read in AFM that, if you can quarantine the tetras, a minimum of 2 teaspoons per gallon is the correct dosage of salt.

Thats interesting. I've always heard 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons (a little under 1/2 tsp per gal) Was that specifically for tetras or for freshwater fish in genera?

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Neon tetras were specifically stated in the article. Actually I had heard many times that 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons also, but that was recommended for healthy tanks, not ones with illness. However I personally don't agree with putting salt in healthy tanks unless the specific freshwater fish's natural habitat has a large (relatively) salt content.

 

[tttnjfttt]

This is getting mroe interesting. I have always heard the 1 tbsp/gal was for sick or stressed fish.

I did a google search, and found a whole range of articles that all looked credible and seemed logical. These articles ranged from don't waste your money to use salt regularly. I also saw articles saying that neons tend to have trouble with salt and others saying they have kept some catfish in a low salt concentration.

I am getting VERY interested in this, which usually means trouble.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Well, its always good for at least one person to be trying to clear up the confusion. In the past few month I have been reading AFM regularly and they seem to be a very good publication and often adress common but confusing aquarist issues.

I accidentally left some information out from the article. The article was a response to a letter describing a tank in which some fish were lost and still residing in the tank were neons, tiger barbs and glassfish. The problem was that the guys tank was only 3 weeks old and he already had it highly stocked with sensetive species.

He said he put 2 teaspoons of salt in for a 20 gallon. The author claimed that 2 teaspoons was inadequate because 1) for illness you should have a larger amount of salt and 2) glassfish are brackish (I am not familiar with glassfish) and they need at least 2 teaspoons per gallon. He also said this level would not hurt the other fish, including the neons.

Sorry for the possible confusion I may have caused by witholding information.

I have read many articles about salt and of course, because of my job, have had several managers insist on putting salt in healthy, non brackish tanks. I think this is just plain wasteful. For the freshwater fish who naturally have low or no salt in their habitat it is a waste of time to put in salt. There is no evidence to suggest they do better.

An editorial in TFH (tropical fish hobbyist) a while back made an excellent analogy. If a human hurts their leg/arm/back etc. then rest and immobility help the healing process. However, if a healthy human stays immobile and rests all the time they become unhealthy. For a sick fish (one that does not naturally reside in water with much salt) adding salt helps heal the fish. Now, he was not saying that adding salt to healthy tank would hurt the fish, nor was he saying that it is wrong to add the salt, but he was suggesting that it might not be needed. He adressed both sides of the argument, but was leaning towards the saltless side.

I agree that there is really no point to adding salt to a healthy tank. If the creature is brackish, ill, or naturally has a (relatively) large salt content in their habitat then salt is good.

My store insists that salt be put into every tank. I do not know if this helps and relly have seen no difference between when there was salt and when there wasn't. Of course if someone comes and puts the salt in when I am not there then theres nothing I can do about it. However, I do put a small amount of salt in the betta cups when I change their water because they are in such a wretched state. I got the idea last year when I was putting salt in a sick betta's cup. I thought If I just put more stress coat and some salt in the cup of a healthy betta it could help prevent disease, or help them fight off the disease they probably already have but are not yet visible. Since then illness of bettas has lowered significantly.